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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people are idiots for not buying travel insurance

323 replies

MenyMeny · 19/07/2024 23:56

Maybe it's because of the numerous high profile cases of people dying abroad but I don't understand why so few people seemingly buy travel insurance.

I've seen at least three cases where people have passed away with no travel insurance and are now fundraising to cover costs.

I was also on a SM post where numerous people were saying how they never bought travel insurance as they "didn't see the need" even when they admit to travelling abroad numerous times a year.

Frankly, if you can afford a trip abroad, you can afford cover or AIBU?

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 20/07/2024 01:07

The other thing that is crazy is people taking out travel insurance but not declaring pre existing medical conditions. I know only too well how much more expensive it makes it but if you're not honest you may as well not bother as it would almost certainly invalidate the entire policy if you are found to have lied. You may get away with it if you're only claiming for lost luggage or similar I guess but if you make any kind of medical claim surely your past history will come out? Then you're likely to find yourself uninsured even if the claim is for an unrelated illness or injury.
Likewise people taking out basic insurance that excludes dangerous sports and activities and then going paragliding or something. I think a lot of people just opt for the cheapest policy and don't actually read the information properly to check that the cover actually meets their needs.

BeachParty · 20/07/2024 01:07

youve987456 · 20/07/2024 01:01

People should also share their travel insurance details with someone they aren't travelling with, especially given that it is likely the documents will be in their emails rather than in printed form. If they are unconscious or dead then unless someone else knows their insurance details they won't be able to make a claim for hospital or repatriation costs.

That's a good point....

Ridiculousme · 20/07/2024 01:21

Tip for those with pre-existing conditions: insure the person with them separately to the rest of your party. A lot cheaper. (Me previous heart attack, went to Mexico this year).

Bluebirdover · 20/07/2024 01:33

Redlettuce · 20/07/2024 00:31

Its really expensive if you have some pre existing conditions so some people probably just risk it.

That's very sure the risk is greater and you're more likely to use the cover, you build it into the cost of your holiday and if you can't afford it, you don't go.

Elphamouche · 20/07/2024 01:56

Our travel insurance isn’t cheap - £600ish for two of us on a WW annual Policy.

But it’s £40,400 less than my hospital bill in France in 2010.

You have to be careful insuring separately as then you aren’t always covered to stay with them if needed etc.

Yes, I do think you’re an idiot if you go without travel insurance. You’re actually meant to be have insurance in the UK for repatriation purposes. We found out the hard way sadly.

DD6798 · 20/07/2024 02:03

My dad stopped paying for insurance after a medical condition made him very expensive to insure. He'd only holiday in Europe though, we were still in the EU so he had an E111 card. He used to say he didn't need insurance as the only thing he wouldn't be covered for is if he died on holiday and "what are the chances of that".

You can guess what happened. We certainly didn't set up a GoFundMe though!

It was extremely stressful and would have been much easier if he had insurance, but the cost of getting him home was less than he would have spent on insurance in his last ten years of life. But he definitely wasn't an idiot. He knew the risks and he made a decision, just turned out to be the wrong one.

I don't think there's any excuse for young, healthy people not taking out insurance though. It's extremely cheap if you have no health issues. But if you do have health issues and decide not to get insurance, I think that's fine too as long as you don't expect everyone else to pay to get you home.

suburberphobe · 20/07/2024 02:09

£600ish for two of us

WHAT??!

Mine is 84 Euros for the year. I have permanent travel insurance having family and travelling abroad a lot.

suburberphobe · 20/07/2024 02:11

P.s. I do think people are idiots though not to take it out when travelling.

I've never had to use it but it's comforting to know I have it.

TheOriginalEmu · 20/07/2024 02:15

Most people do get travel insurance, you just don’t hear about them as if/when they are ill abroad, they have the insurance and there is no gofundme. It’s confirmation bias that you see the ones who haven’t as they are the ones who fund raise.

personally I don’t really see why you wouldn’t, but also if people want to donate to a gofundme that’s their business and no one else’s. No one is forcing anyone to give.

Karentoo · 20/07/2024 02:26

I think part of the problem is people sometimes think they have cover - from their banking package for example. Then it turns out that they aren't covered as they haven't read the small print.
We were caught out when one of the kids was waiting for test results which we hadn't realised was a caveat on the insurance policy. The doctor had said she was fit to travel so we didn't give it a second thought, and as it happens we were fine as she was covered by a reciprocal agreement, but it could have been far worse.

MaryEllenWaldron · 20/07/2024 02:27

Totally agree. Everything seems more expensive than ever, but travel insurance is still cheap. Even If it weren't, peace of mind is priceless.

HoppingPavlova · 20/07/2024 02:32

Yep. I don’t understand people who don’t have it. I think Governments should step up on this one and not let people out of their own country without it. They already do this with the passport. Just whack evidence if travel insurance on to the requirement to have a valid passport on exit.

Meadowfinch · 20/07/2024 02:34

HepzibahGreen · 20/07/2024 00:38

Travel insurance is pretty cheap,

Not for everyone!!
Try getting affordable travel insurance while being treated for ( or years after being treated for) cancer , or heart disease ( which a lot of you will be at some point…)

I was pleasantly surprised. I was diagnosed with breast cancer less than three years ago. Travel insurance this year for a trip to Europe was £19.80. 🙂

JingsMahBucket · 20/07/2024 04:04

PeloMom · 20/07/2024 00:15

Absolutely! I’ve gotten sick few times while abroad and it’s a no brainer. Although in one place my insurance covered only a very shitty hospital; when I went to the better one I paid out of pocket but was luckily relatively cheap. Since then I check in advance what are the approved hospitals with the insurance I buy.

How do you check this? Is it buried deep within the documents? And what if you’re going to various countries? I tend to buy a yearly insurance plan, usually from M & S.

JingsMahBucket · 20/07/2024 04:10

Elphamouche · 20/07/2024 01:56

Our travel insurance isn’t cheap - £600ish for two of us on a WW annual Policy.

But it’s £40,400 less than my hospital bill in France in 2010.

You have to be careful insuring separately as then you aren’t always covered to stay with them if needed etc.

Yes, I do think you’re an idiot if you go without travel insurance. You’re actually meant to be have insurance in the UK for repatriation purposes. We found out the hard way sadly.

Edited

This is accurate pricing depending on your condition. I have a yearly WW policy and pre-existing conditions and it just cost me £287 from M & S just for myself. It was, of course, less last year but still a good price compared to other sellers. I need WW because I return to the US at least once a year.

BobbyGentry · 20/07/2024 04:41

Is it not medical insurance for repatriation? Travel insurance covers flights, hotel, critical incidents etc. Medical Insurance covers medical emergencies and repatriation. Medical insurance increases with pre-existing diagnosis. My family holds world-wide medical insurance; excluding the U.S (need to pay extra for U.S.) this covers repatriation if the worst occurred. The medical insurance organises direct billing and medical assistance if needed (touch wood.)

cariadlet · 20/07/2024 05:26

Travel insurance includes medical bills. I've never bought a separate policy.

sashh · 20/07/2024 05:34

Bluebirdover · 20/07/2024 01:33

That's very sure the risk is greater and you're more likely to use the cover, you build it into the cost of your holiday and if you can't afford it, you don't go.

Show quote history

But depending on the condition it might make you less of a risk but they still charge you more.

I have a few medical conditions, one being arthritis, this means I'm not going to go on a zip wire or rock climbing but I have to pay more.

CeeJay81 · 20/07/2024 05:53

I totally agree. Ours is £200 this year for our family of 4, due to dh mostly and ds. I'd never think to go without it, we just have to deal with it. Their conditions aren't ones that would likely lead to death but you just never know.

Interesting the poster who said about insuring the person with medical conditions separate. May try that with dh next time and see if it saves money.

Sirzy · 20/07/2024 05:58

The other thing is the amount of people who don’t tell them of pre existing conditions- you may as well not bother if your not going to be honest.

travel insurance costs a fortune for us because of DS health but it’s considerably less than the bill if something did go wrong.

its so important to not only buy the insurance but make sure it has the right cover for
the trip and activities your doing.

Destiny123 · 20/07/2024 06:07

redalex261 · 20/07/2024 00:32

I think it should be mandatory. I hate crowdfunders for things like this - totally avoidable. Travel insurance is pretty cheap, considering how much some people spend on new clothes for going away, tat at the airport, then eating and drinking while they are away, they could easily forgo a couple of purchases to get insurance cover, even if they have a pre-existing condition.

I wouldn’t contribute to these appeals. Though it must be a stressful nightmare if the traveller hasn’t taken the insurance and some poor relative is left to pick up the tab if they die uninsured.

It's really not cheap for some

As an icu/anaesthetic Dr I'd never travel without it...but you have any sort of cardiac disease cancer history or such the premiums can be 5x the cost of a standard hol (often had breast cancer pts quoted 900quid for a 5d trip to spain

itsgettingweird · 20/07/2024 06:08

I think people don't bother nowadays purely Because if something goes wrong a go fund me - funds them!

Personal responsibility is going to the wayside!

DancingLions · 20/07/2024 06:11

I agree. I’m currently under investigations for something which isn’t life threatening but would result in an ambulance being called if it happened abroad. I’ve decided to postpone a planned holiday until I at least have a formal diagnosis due to the insurance issue. I can’t afford to pay for medical care abroad and wouldn’t ever think of asking others to pay. It’s disappointing but I would be foolish to just go ahead and hope for the best.

WitchyBits · 20/07/2024 06:46

We have an annual policy with stay sure. Zero excess covering heart issues/bp/cholesterol in one and bipolar/rheumatoid arthritis in the other and ADHD in Our 16 yo daughter. Costs £25 a month. Covers uk and abroad but not America. This holiday I've always had my DH to the drs twice as he had an accident before we came away and although approved for flying he still needed check ups and treatment. He has to go back Monday to get stitches removed. I've had to go to the same DR due to a horrific reaction to the mozzies where my foot swelled up and I couldn't walk. All fixed and not cost a penny, the bull would have been €150 at this point so it's always worth us getting it.

username47985 · 20/07/2024 06:51

MorrisZapp · 20/07/2024 00:10

Especially if you're going to America. MIL was visiting a friend over there and she had a stroke. She was hospitalised and very well cared for, and luckily had insurance which covered the cost. She saw the hospital bill though, it was about sixty grand if I remember rightly.

For a stroke and hospital stay I wouldn't be surprised if it was 'ONLY' 60k.

Not buy travel insurance is absolute madness